17. Creed
Chapter 17
Creed
“ Y eah I got some things I need to look over so I’ll be back that way in a couple weeks,” I told Ken on the phone as I pulled my truck into the driveway behind Nakyra’s yellow car.
“You know if your brother is still in bad condition you don’t have to rush back, boss,” he informed me.
“I know. I won’t be there longer than a few days. While I’m here to make sure my brother’s good, I still have a company to run.”
“Understandable. Just know business is running well and there haven’t been any issues.”
The front door opened and Nakyra stepped outside looking confused.
“Send me the reports for the week and I’ll take a look at them before the week is out.”
“Will do.”
I hung up and opened the car door. “You got a new rental?”
Smirking, I looked over my shoulder at the black Range Rover. “Nah, I turned the rental in. This bad boy’s all mine.” I ran my hand over the hood of the truck.
“Wait… you bought a truck?” She walked down the sidewalk to come closer.
“Wasn’t no point in wasting money on a rental if I plan on being here until Rome wakes up. It just made more sense to me.”
“It’s nice. Brand new?”
“Of course! Fresh off the lot, never been driven before now.”
She walked to the back driver side door and opened it. My eyes trailed the outline of her body. Dressed in brown leggings and an olive-green sweater with boots on her feet that were the same color as her sweater, she never had to do too much, but she was still beautiful. It made me wonder why my brother would step out on her and take her for granted. I almost brought it up the other day when we were walking Bella but I didn’t know if she was aware of my brother’s possible cheating; and if she wasn’t I couldn’t be the one to hurt her like that.
“You excited for today?” I asked, referring to rock climbing.
“Yeah, ecstatic,” she replied blandly, causing me to chuckle.
Reaching out I grabbed her hand and cuffed it in mine. “If you don’t enjoy it we can leave and do something else.” Her eyes dropped to our hands. I stroked the top of her hand with my thumb. “You know… you might end up loving it. When I first started doing it in my early twenties, I didn’t expect it to be such a good way to clear my mind.”
“I guess we’ll see.” She slowly pulled her hand out of mine and rubbed it with her other hand. “I’m going to go lock the house up and get my purse and phone then I’ll be ready.”
Nakyra turned and hurried into the house. I watched her until she was back inside. I shouldn’t be thinking about in any way other than platonic, but over the past couple weeks I seemed to be thinking about her more than I should. I kept telling myself I was staying here just to stay updated on Rome firsthand, but now, deep down, I knew there was another reason.
Minutes later Nakyra came back outside. “Ready.” She walked back my way. I followed her and grabbed the passenger door before she could touch it, opening it for her.
She glanced at me. “Thank you.”
When she got inside I closed the door behind her and walked over to the driver’s side. The place we were going was a town over, about half an hour’s drive, and I wasn’t sure if I should let the radio play between us or try to strike up a conversation. Something was up with Nakyra. I noticed it that day we took Bella on a walk. She hadn’t been able to look me in the eyes the past couple of days and was jumpy. It was the same as when we kissed. I thought things between us were good now, but it was clear to me that something else was weighing on her.
“Do you think your parents will let me see Rome if I try one last time?” she asked suddenly as we headed down the street.
My hand rubbed over the wheel and my mouth twitched. “Last time I was up there they didn’t seem like they were gonna budge.” While I didn’t want to hurt her, I also wasn’t going to give her false hope. I peeked over at her, feeling a stabbing in my chest as her face fell.
“Right.” She turned and looked out the window.
“Hey.” I reached over and placed my hand on her leg. “I know it sucks, but it’ll get better.”
“It’s been two weeks since I’ve seen him. I read that coma victims can hear those around them. He’s probably gonna wonder why he stopped hearing my voice.”
My tongue dragged over my teeth. I wasn’t sure what to tell her to assure her of anything. Her and my brother’s relationship was starting to make less and less sense to me. Thinking of the woman I saw at the hospital and the fact that my parents were clearly keeping her away for ulterior motives, I knew Rome more than likely wouldn’t be bothered about our parents’ decisions.
“Don’t think about all that right now. Today we’re going to go climb some fake rocks and enjoy ourselves.”
She snorted. “Yeah, if I don’t fall on my ass.”
“You’ll be attached to a harness. But don’t worry, I’ll catch you either way.” I squeezed her thigh before releasing it and winking at her.
Her cheeks reddened and her eyes slid back to the window.
Silence expanded between us. I pressed the button on the steering wheel to turn the radio up and let the music fill the space around us.
____
“You made it look so easy!” Nakyra’s brows furrowed as she scanned the beginner wall we were standing in front of. I had already taken my turn, allowing her to watch. Now she was up.
I wiped my brows and glanced at the wall. “Once you do it a couple times it becomes a piece of cake.”
I stepped to the guy and held my hand out. “I’ll be her belayer.” The guy nodded, handing me the rope.
“And what’s a belayer again?” Nakyra asked.
“Means I’ll be your supporter. I’ll control the rope and catch you if you fall.”
She looked hesitant and peeked at the wall again. “You got this. Just take your time. I’ll be guiding you the whole time.” I stepped closer to her, tugging on the part of the harness around her waist to make sure it was secure. “Does it feel okay?”
She nodded. “It’s fine.”
“A’right. Then you’re up.” Lifting the corners of my mouth, I stepped back and got in position.
Nakyra stepped to the wall.
It was comical watching Nakyra try to climb the wall. Her movements were clumsy and uncertain. Every few minutes or steps she would look over her shoulder, down at me, for assurance. She was almost halfway up the wall. It wasn’t as tall as the one I’d climbed nor was it as complicated.
“You’re doing good. Keep going,” I encouraged.
She pushed out a deep breath and nodded then gave her attention back to the wall. She looked up and reached her right hand to grab the fake rock in front of her. Her climb was slow, but it was clear she was gaining more confidence the higher she went.
“Ah!” she shrieked when her foot missed a rock. She flailed her feet, causing her to lose balance.
“Careful. You’re fine!”
Catching her eye, I gave her an encouraging nod. She took a few breaths then gave me a shaky smile before nodding and continuing.
Nakyra continued the climb and eventually got to the top. Her mouth turned up in a wide grin as she looked down at me.
“I did it!” she shouted while grinning. Seeing that smile on her face caused my heart to speed up. Pride filled my chest knowing she was enjoying herself.
“I told you that you had it! Do you remember how to come down?”
Nodding, she started the lowering process. She was halfway down when she missed a step.
“Ah!” she shrieked, falling back. I kept a grip on the rope, slowed her fall, and stepped forward. With my arms up, she landed in them and gripped tightly.
I chuckled. “I told you I’d catch you before you hit the ground.” Her eyes were wide when she faced me breathing heavily. Her lashes fluttered, dusting the top of her flushed cheeks.
“I was doing so good too.”
“You were, almost forgot it was your first time.” Her body rested against mine.
“Ma’am, are you okay?” the worker asked as he stepped closer.
“Yeah, I’m fine. My heart’s pounding though.”
“Your adrenaline is pumping. Just take a couple breaths,” I told her.
She made no attempt to leave my hold and I didn’t bother to put her down. She lay her head to the side and rested it on my chest.
Her eyes lifted to meet mine. “You were right. I did have a good time,” she mentioned after a few seconds with a small smile plastered on her face. Her eyes beamed and her cheeks were rosy. I loved that although she was limited with her hearing, she never let it stop her from doing anything. Her strength and determination to live a normal life were something I couldn’t ignore.
“What you mean did? We’re doing one more. This time a different wall.”
“Wait what?”
Smirking, I lowered her to her feet. She seemed to remember I was holding her once her feet touched the ground.
“Let’s grab some water then we can start again.”
“You’re insane,” she breathed, making me laugh. A smile slowly formed on her face.
This was the right call for her. I knew in the car she was starting to get in her feelings about Rome, but now her focus was on climbing and it seemed the situation with the hospital was now pushed to the back of her mind.
____
“This burger is amazing,” Nakyra gushed, biting into the cheeseburger. On the way home, we stopped by a food place and grabbed something to eat. While Nakyra only climbed two walls, I could tell she had a good time and I planned on suggesting we go again soon.
“You better slow down before you choke.”
“I can’t help it. You made me drain all my energy with all that climbing.” She took another bite.
Chuckling, I picked up my milkshake and took a drink. “Admit it though… you had fun?”
“It wasn’t bad.”
“Meaning you would go again?”
Nakyra side eyed me. “I don’t know about that. I’m sure I’m gonna be sore tomorrow.”
“What’s the saying? No pain, no gain.”
She rolled her eyes. “Says you.”
I faced her and my eyes went to the barbeque sauce resting on the corner of her mouth. “You got something…” I reached up to swipe it just as she stuck her tongue out and swiped over the tip of my finger.
“Oh.” Her eyes widened.
“My bad, I was just gonna get it for you.” I licked my lips and moved my hand. My fingers lightly brushed her bottom lip. Her cheeks flushed and her lips parted slowly. Snatching her eyes forward, she quickly grabbed her milkshake and brought the straw to her mouth.
The last thing I wanted to do was put Nakyra in a position where she was uncomfortable but there was a pulling I had toward her, one that I kept trying to ignore. However, the more time we spent together, the harder it got. I was never one to bite my tongue or hold punches. It was wrong for me to want her, but after learning what I had, I couldn’t find it inside myself to care.
“So, I was thinking…” Nakyra started a few seconds later but stopped. “What’s wrong?” Her forehead creased.
“Let me take you out,” I said.
Confusion filled her face. “Take me out?”
Nodding, I set my uneaten burger on my lap to the side and twisted my body to face her. “Yeah. Look I know you’re with Rome, but we can’t deny there’s something between us.”
“Creed—”
“I’m not asking for much, just one night. One night on a real date. Let me show you how you deserve to be treated.”
Her teeth scraped over her bottom lip and she fidgeted her hand around her cup. “I’m engaged to your brother,” she whispered.
“But you can admit there’s something here?”
She licked her lips and bobbed her head slowly. “It’s wrong though.”
“Is it?” I tilted my head and scanned her from head to toe. Reaching out, I grabbed her hand and enveloped it between mine. “I like you, Nakyra. You’re talented, strong, ambitious, and you never let your hearing keep you down or stop you from doing anything. Do you understand how sexy that is? The drive you have to prove that you can do anything everyone else can? In the short time I’ve been here, I know you’ve been through a lot, yet you still smile and push forward, making the best out of every situation thrown at you. It’s hard to not fall for that.”
Nakyra swallowed hard. I was laying it on thick, but I didn’t want to leave anything on the table.
Slowly, she pulled her hand out of mine. “We can’t do this, Creed. Even if there’s something here. I…” She paused. “I can’t do that to Rome. He’s been there for me through so many rough times in my life and we’re due to get married soon. I can’t go out with his brother.”
Part of me knew she would say that. The other part hoped she would at least entertain the thought.
Nodding, I wet my lips and rested my hand on my lap. “A’right, I can respect that.”
“You’re not mad at me, are you?”
One corner of my mouth lifted. “Now why would I be mad at you, beautiful?” I reached out and brushed my hand over her cheek lightly. Her eyelids fluttered and her breathing slowed. “You’re loyal and I can respect that. We’re good.”
She pushed out a deep breath when I moved my hand and opened her eyes. “Thank you.” Her voice came out lowly.
I wasn’t going to push the matter. Nakyra had been with Rome for years; I couldn’t expect her to drop everything and give me a chance after a couple of months. I would continue being here for her and enjoying the time we spent together until it was time for me to head home for good.